Thompson takes pole position in Junior at PFI

The sky gradually became overcast this Friday afternoon, but a slight breeze seemed to rule out any risk of rain at PFI for the official Qualifying of the World Junior Championship. With more than 30 drivers on track in each session, traffic management was very important. Despite this, the drivers delayed their starts.

In the first session, Jonny Edgar seemed to have the situation in hand, but Luca Bosco (Tony Kart / Vortex) and Gillian Henrion (Tony Kart / Vortex) joined him at the front. But it was O’Neill Muth (Zanardi / Parilla) who set the fastest time with 57”045, one thousandth faster than Dexter Patterson (Exprit / TM). Bosco kept 3rd position ahead of Viktor Gustafsson (Tony Kart / Vortex) and Henrion finished ahead of Edgar by 4 hundredths.

The second session started a little earlier than the previous one. Hadrien David (Zanardi / Parilla) and Suleiman Zanfari (Tony Kart / Vortex) unfortunately stopped on the first lap. Aleksey Brizhan (Tony Kart / Vortex) headed the times with a lap to go, but Francesco Pizzi (Exprit / Vortex) scored the best – 56”902 – on the last lap 8 thousandths ahead of Jack Doohan (FA Kart / Vortex). Brizhan was 3rd, followed by Alexander Simmonds (Tony Kart / Parilla) and Luigi Coluccio (Birel ART / TM). Victor Bernier (Tony Kart / Vortex) was approaching the top 10, and Evann Mallet (Kosmic / Parilla) was 14th.

Chris Lulham (Exprit / TM) was the first to go into action in the 3rd sessiom. He set successive fastest laps until two minutes from the end of the session. Harry Thompson (FA Kart / Vortex) followed him closely and finished ahead of Lulham by 3 thousandths with 56”809, which gave him pole position. Gabriele Bortoleto (CRG / Parilla) followed by 0.180 ”, then came Zane Maloney (FA Kart / Vortex), with Luca Griggs (Tony Kart / Parilla) 5th. Sami Meguetounif (Tony Kart / Vortex) returned to 6th at the end of the session, and Jules Mettetal (Kosmic / Parilla) finished in the top 10.

Track conditions were progressing over the course of the sessions, which significantly impacted the overall hierarchy. Thompson took pole in front of Lulham, with Pizzi 3rd, Doohan 4th and Brizhan 5th. Simmonds, Bortoleto, Maloney, Muth and Patterson completed the top 10. Meguetounif took 14th place, Mettetal 19th, Cabirou 28th, Mallet 35th, Henrion 39th. Edgar found himself 41st.

Info Kartcom / © Photo KSP